RECEIVE update and PROVIDE input on the Monterey Bay Area Rail Network Integration Study.

The study will lay the groundwork for implementing the State Rail Plan in the Monterey Bay Area. Progress on the study since the last report to this Committee in January includes the sixth Network Advisory Committee and update of the project schedule.

The study has a budget of $500,000, funded out of the state Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program: $350,000 for consultant costs and $150,000 for staff and in-house costs. The study will be the foundation for future applications for rail capital and operations grant funding.

The Monterey Bay Area Rail Network Integration Study focuses on determining the optimal options for: rail connectivity and operations, equipment needs, governance, and community benefits for service between Monterey County and Santa Clara County, Monterey and Santa Cruz, and the Coast Rail Corridor. This study will also assist TAMC by providing the data needed to prepare grant applications for funding new stations at Pajaro/Watsonville, Castroville, Soledad and King City.

The study is intended to provide information for the TAMC Rail Policy Committee to consider in recommendations to the TAMC Board of Directors as to next steps on implementing rail projects in Monterey County connecting to the Central Coast and the Northern California megaregion.

Staff and consultants will present and seek feedback on the updated Caltrans ridership analysis (web attachment 1), project benefits, and funding and financial scenarios at the meeting (attachment 1). When documents are available, they are posted to the project website (web attachment 2).

The Network Advisory Committee met on February 22, 2021 via webinar and reviewed conceptual capital cost estimates, ridership estimates, and funding and financing strategies.

The full draft Network Integration Study will be on the May 3, 2021 agenda for Committee recommendation to the Board to circulate for public review. The final Study will come to the Committee in June for recommendation to the Board to adopt.

• Caltrans Rail Ridership Forecasts Memo
• Monterey Bay Area Rail Network Integration Study website